Liquid dispensing machine



Patented Nov. 28, 1950 LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Normand P. Holcomb, Warehouse Point, and .lohn

C. Rothwell, Rockville, Conn., assignors of onethird to Edwin H. De Frees, Wethersfield, Conn.

Application January 11, 1947, Serial N o. 721,496

9 Claims. l

This invention relates to liquid dispensing machines and more particularly to an apparatus for dispensing milk.

It is well known that in the dispensing of milk, it is necessary to mix the milk with the cream content in order that it may be evenly dispensed to avoid separation of the cream from the milk.

It is also necessary that such apparatus must permit sanitation in the dispensing of the milk, and this requires easy accessibility to the interior of the milk container for cleaning and sterilizing.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus for dispensing milk having novel advantages permitting the dispensing of milk, or the like, in a sanitary manner and which will thoroughly mix the milk with the cream therein before it is dispensed.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus which may be used in connection with vending mechanism wherein milk-dispensing operations of said apparatus are controlled by the deposit of a required coin.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, in central vertical section, through a liquid dispensing apparatus embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the liquid container used in said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit for controlling the mechanism of said apparatus.

As illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes a container, preferably in the shape of a circular drum having a series of ribs 6 spaced along the inner wall thereof. A cover 'l is secured torsaid drum in any suitable manner, such as by threading the same, as at 8, to an annular flange 9 on the front of said container. The said liange may abut a suitable seal Il) between a ange II on said cover and the edge of the said ilange 9.

`The cover "I is provided with a series of vanes I2 which extend inwardly into the container 5 as clearly illustrated in Fig. l These varies cooperate with the ribs 6 in agitating the liquid, such as milk, for thorough mixing thereof upon the said container being rotated.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the container 5 is connected to a gear disk I3 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing III by means of a shaft I5 projecting rearwardly from said disk. In the preyferred form illustrated, the container drum 5 is provided with annular anges 5-a-5-a by means of which it is rotatably supported upon suitable rollers 5-b-5b. The said drum is rotated by means of drive posts S-a-S-a. which are detachably connected with the gear disk I3 by fitting into recesses therein.

The outer periphery of the said disk I3 is provided With gear teeth I5 and a ring Il is rotatably mounted on said disk i3 and has an outer row of gear teeth I8 and an inner row of teeth I9 for the purpose to be hereinafter described,

At the bottom of the container 5, there is provided a valve housing portion 25 within which is rotatably mounted a measuring valve preferably comprising a cylindrical hollow plug 2l having a slightly tapered exterior adapted to iit a tapered recess 22 in the housing portion 2G. A cap 23 is preferably threaded to the end of the cylindrical plug 2| as shown and in such a manner that it may be easily detached therefrom when it is desired to clean the interior of the measuring valve. A spring 24, preferably of the form shown in Fig. l, is positioned between an abutment 25 on the said housing and the under side of the flange II for pressing the measuring valve plug inwardly in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the recess which communicates with the interior of the container, through a passage 2l, and with a spout 28 through a passage 28a.

Means for operating the above-described mechanism may comprise a driving shaft 29 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 30 and driven by gears such as bevel gears 3l and 32 which may be rotated by means of a suitable electric motor connected to the drive shaft 33.

The said shaft 29 carries therewith a gear 34, which meshes with the teeth I8 of the ring gear I1, and a separate gear 35 which is rotatably carried on the shaft 29 and engageable with a suitable clutch member 36 that is slidably keyed to said shaft for connecting the gear 35 thereto when the said clutch member 36 is operated by a suitable device, such as a solenoid 31.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a means for controlling our improved dispensing apparatus may comprise an electric circuit including a pair of current supply conductors 38--38 between which are connected a series of electric switches that are operated by different units of the dispensing apparatus in order to control the operations of said units.

As shown, the switch A in said circuit is operated by means of a detent 39 on the gear disk I3, the switch B is operated by the clutch lever .ascites 3 4G', and the switch C is operated by a detent 4i on a gear 42 which rotates a shaft 43 that operates the dispensing valve 2|.

In addition to the said switches, there is included within the circuit a series of relays 44, 45, 45, and 41, a motor 48 for rotating the drive shaft 29, and `a Vmain control switch 49 which may be leither manually or coin controlled.

When the main switch y49 is coin controlled, such as by any suitable mechanism requiring the insertion of a coin for the operation thereof, our improved apparatus may be used-'laslavend-i-ng machine. The said apparatus, or the mixing container alone, may be enclosed withina refrigerated cabinet of any suitable-'type vwhen Vit is desired to dispense milk or the like in order to prevent the spoilage thereof. AInsuch'f'rnam chinos, a measured amount of liquid isusually placed in a cup that is positioned underneath the spout v28. Lf desired the cups may be autoiriatically placed rder tl'ie'pout, lledand ydelivered'tothe "user upon the'in'sertion f a coin in the "mechanism which 'will operate to close the VSwitch 'E9 alfid'luse' Opetll `f"0u1"dis pnsingapparatu's. y y

The operation of the above-'described .embodiment of our invention is as follows:

kVheIJ.` lilherSWlti-ih 49 -iS ISd, either bythe operation''f a coin-.controlled mechanism (not shown) or by manualoperation'` the electric current will energize the relayl 44-a1idclosethetwo normally-open switches 5U and'l thereof. `The current will 'tl/ien pass ythrough conductor `-38 through theswit'c'hll,V the coil of the relay`44 and thus'the coil of the relay "44 Ahas becme selfenergized 'by Aitinfientary contact ,in vthe switch 49, which vswitch canimmediately open without eiecltingmthe'further operation of the mechanismf`r completing a `dispensing cycle. "This lis preferred where 'it' is desired that' Ythe 'switch '49 be operativeto set'the mechanism' in motion by afmomentary Contact as incases where therrsaid mechanismis released upon the passage ofthe coinltherethrogh.

the 'switch "'5`I`is closed upon energizationf the coil in the relay 44, the circuitwi'll be closed through Y'the `motor iindicated at which will immediately start the operation ot thermechanism lby rotating the rs`natj 33 and through the geara32-and 3|- rotatethe shait'ZS. w

The ,momentary-operation,-of the switch 49 will alsocause closing of the normally fopen-switches 53- and- '54 in i .the relay 45 by venergizi-ngfthe .coil

of said relay through the normally closed switch 55v` ofthe relay-46. LThis-Will cause'energization of theJfsolenoidfSl which will operatethe clutch lever r inland move the' member- 33 -to lock the gear totheshatZS, While-the said-levenwill causethe switch Bto open. The rotation-of the gears,'4 and 35 by the'shaft 29 will rotate Ithe disk: gear l `I 3- Aand the ringtgear l1 thus rotating the container iv'uponv the lroller-s eb-e-hwi-th the measuring valVeAZl moving with-said contailler butinoperative,

As the disk 33 begins =torotate, the boss-39 will :nove awayfvfrom the loperating arm` of the normally open switch A -and Vpermit saidswitch to close. This willl cause energization ofthe coil'Y inv the relay46` to'cl'se 'the normally open switch '5e and 'open the-normally' erased switchv 55.

Opening of the switch 55 Will cause de-energi'zation 'of 'the coil l'in :the relay45andbreak thel circuit `-to the solenoid" l.3 'Itlir'oug-hfthe Vvswitch 54, While 'closing f the switch' 56 Will maintain 4 the solenoid 31 energized for continuance of the operating cycle of the machine.

Rotation of the gears I1 and I3 with the drum 1 will now continue until said drum has revolved for one'complete turn. At this time the boss 39 will again engage the lever of the switch A to opensaid .switchand break the circuit through the" coil of the relay 46 Zand thus u'de-energizing said coil and permitting opening of the switch :to deenergize the solenoid 31 and permit the clutch 36 to be operated so as to release the gear f3`5ifrom the drive shaft and thus cause the drum fl tocome.toastationary position. Disengage- Vment of Vvtlfieclutch 35 will cause return of the vswitch B 'tolits normally closed position. As soon as the drum has reached the stationary postionjtliebbs'sl on the gear 42 of the stud 43 :fwillengage the lever of the normally open switch Cand close said switch to energize the coil of the relay M .an'diclose the-circuitto'the I notor 48 directly throughthetwo-wlay switch 52a, so asto retain said motor" inoperatin 'iintil the .stud 43.has .rotated the valve plug'i-Z'flin completek rotation whenv the 'stud 4I will againden- Vgagefthe switch Cand return it toits normally open position whereupon the circuitthrough' the coil `of the relay 4l .willbe broken and the said relay is returned toits normal position'breaking the circuit through the vmotor and completing-the cycle ofV operation. A

`From-the above'it will lbe'clearly understood that the deposit of a cin'in a coin-'operated mechanismffor operatingfthe switch 49, or'the manual operation f saidswitchfwill immediatelyini-tiate the Voperation .f'the 'device Ito vr0- tate the 'druml lAs.soon. as`thesad drum-has started its rotation, `the"relays `vin the Hcircuit Vabove-describedY will operate' to .permi't saiddrum to make one complete rotatoriiand come to va standstill, and l then4 permit .one .complete rotation of thevalveiplug 2|` to dispense a 'measured amountof-lliquidsuchasirilk; throughthespout 28; wl'iereuponA the Vvcyclecf .operation .williiave been completed.

'It is also to be understood thatoperation .of the clutchumember lY by/-theislenoidwsl 'Wi-ll, .-i'n eiect, .connectthegear'f tobperate -with'fthe gear 34 so' that the'rin'g gears' T3 and'ffll `will rotate .together until fthe.. rotation ofthe drum"`l has been completed v''Ihe saidfcli'itch will' 'Ithen disengage thejgar 35 arid/.permit lonly rotation ofthe gear34 to rotate thefgear "''lturther until the" gear'42 ofthe 'shaft'l has'been rotatedcne complete turn` and the Y valve .operated .for .the dispensing` oilftheliquid.

Itis"desrird to havefit understood that, wlle applicants prefer the ,use lfzan electric circuit as abovedescribed.for contrlling thaoperation of thedevice,l other -meansfsuch-as mechanically controlled means,l may :be used /vvifthoutdeparting ffromgscope of thesinvention .as.-set-.forthin-lthe following claim-s.v

We claim:

1 liquidrdispensng-machine foftthe .charactor `described comprising :a idrurnY rotatably mounted vcnahorizon-tal axis-,a iii/rst, gearf'secured to said drum for -rotatingiitton said axis; a'measuring valveivhavi-ngia measuring plug rotatableon said drum, a secondegear .forrotating-saidvalve member;Y means for Idfrivingfbotlr ot -saidffgeare to rotatefthej'drumvand the -valve Lrnember.therewitli in inoperative positionaand-means operable upon the completion of 4rotation of saidf drum` to cause discontinuance of rotation of the sai'dfiirst` gearV and thereby allowing irideperidentrottion f'th'f second gear for rotating the measuring plug independently of said drum.

2. A liquid dispensing machine of the character described comprising a container in the form of a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis, a first gear secured to said drum for rotating the same, a valve having a measuring member rotatable in said drum, a second gear for rotating said valve member to cause a liquid dispensing operation thereby, means for driving said drum r0- tating gear and the second gear together to cause rotation of the drum with the said valve member carried thereby inoperative, and clutch means operable upon the completion of a revolution by said drum to cause termination of the rotation of said drum and permit continuance of the rotation of the second gear independently of the first gear for causing rotation of the valve member to dispense a measured amount of liquid from said drum.

3. A liquid dispensing machine of the character described comprising a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis, a rst gear rotatable on said axis and connected to said drum for rotating the same, a dispensing valve in said drum having a rotatable plug, a second gear also rotatable on said axis and with the first gear, a shaft rotatably mounted in the first gear and connected with said plug for rotating the same, a pinion on said shaft in mesh with the second gear, a driving shaft having a driving gear keyed thereon for driving the said second gear, a driving gear rotatable on said driving shaft for driving the first gear, a clutch for connecting the rotatable driving gear to said shaft, means for operating said clutch to connect said rotatable driving gear to the shaft and thereby cause rotation of the first gear with the second gear for rotating the drum and permitting said valve member to remain inoperative during the rotation of the drum, and means operable upon completion of a revolution of said drum to cause said clutch to disconnect the rotatable driving gear from the driving shaft and permit continuance of rotation of the second gear independently of the rst gear for rotating the valve plug to dispense a measured amount of liquid.

4. A liquid dispensing machine of the character described comprising a drum having a circular wall, a projection depending from said wall, a measuring valve including a hollow plug rotatable in said projection, supporting rollers for carrying said drum, a mechanism including a first rotating gear rotatable on a horizontal axis, co-operating means on said gear and drum for permitting rotation of the drum by said gear, means carried by said gear and projecting therefrom to engage and rotate said plug member, a second gear rotatable on said axis for causing rotation of said plug member, and means for driving said first and second gears; the said driving means including a driving shaft, a driving gear rotatable on said shaft and in mesh with the first gear, a separate driving gear keyed to said shaft and in mesh with" the second gear, clutch means for temporarily securing said rotatable driving gear to the shaft to cause rotation of the rst gear with the second gear for rotating the said drum and permitting the valve to remain stationary relatively to the drum, a solenoid for operaing said clutch, and an electric switch, operable upon the completion of a revolution by said drum, to break an electric circuit through said solenoid and cause operation of said clutch to disengage the rotatable driving gear from the driving shaft and thereby terminate the rotation of the first Sear and the drum and permit operation of the said measuring valve by continued rotation of the second gear.

5. A liquid dispensing mechanism of the character described comprising a drum for containing liquid, a valve carried by said drum and having a rotatable measuring member for dispensing a measured amount of liquid from said drum, a spout on said drum communicating with said member, a gear rotatable on a horizontal axis, means for rotatably carrying said drum, a detachable connection between said drum and rotating gear, a shaft rotatable in the rotating gear for rotating said plug member, a separate gear rotatable with the rotating gear, means for driving the rotating and separate gears together to cause the valve member to be carried with the drum in relatively stationary condition, and means operable upon the said drum reaching a predetermined position to terminate the rotation of said drum and permit the independent rotation of said separate gear and thereby cause rotation of said measuring member relatively to the drum for dispensing liquid therefrom through said spout.

6. A liquid dispensing device of the character described comprising a drum for containing liquid, a cover on said drum having projections extending into the drum for agitating the liquid upon rotation of the drum, a ange on said cover, a measuring valve in said drum, a measuring plug for said Valve rotatable in a tapered recess in said drum, an abutment on said drum, a spring member secured between said abutment and the flange of said cover for resiliently retaining said rotatable member seated within the tapered recess, a spout for dispensing liquid from said rotatable member, means for rotating said drum to mix liquid therein, and means for rotating said valve member to dispense liquid from the drum through said spout while the drinn is stationary.

'7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus of the character described the combination of a container rotatable on a horizontal axis, a valve including a rotatable measuring plug carried by said container, a spout for dispensing liquid from said plug, a rst gear for rotating said container for a liquid mixing operation, a shaft rotatable in said rotating gear for rotating said measuring plug, a pinion for rotating said shaft, a second gear rotatable in mesh with said pinion, a driving shaft, a driving gear keyed to said driving shaft and in mesh with the second gear, a driving gear rotatable on said shaft and meshing with the first gear, a clutch including a member keyed to said driving shaft and engageable with said rotatable driving gear to cause rotation of the first gear with the second gear for rotating the drum without causing rotation of the measuring plug relatively to the drum and for disengaging said rotatable driving gear from the driving shaft to discontinue rotation of the drum and permit continued rotation of the second gear to operate the measuring plug, and electric means for controlling the operation of said device; said electric means comprising an electric circuit including therein a motor for driving said driving shaft, a solenoid for operating said clutch, a first relay, a normally open first switch for causing operation of said first relay for energization of said motor to drive the driving shaft, a second relay operable by said rst switch for causing energization of said solenoid to cause the clutch to lock the rotatable driving gear to the said driveslhft folrottio Athe drumrzmdfthe waive :therewithiinSinoperativeeondition,fa thirdrrelay,

'afsecond switch operable upon startingmovement -ncrsid 1-meehianism :T01-realising operation of the tziifderelayto break thefcireuittfthroughthe:see-

1ond relay end :retain @he solenoid *in @energized lfeonciition-lor permittingfathe rotation of 'for ea 'fx'fevolutiom the second switch f fbeing .operable upon 12emex completionfof ,seid revohltion to ea-use operation :of :the @third Arelay fiar yexie- 1 energizing @aid :.zsolenoi'd and `lthereby Iiper-ation115i xthe clutch 'for xiisengegng athe 1ro- .ba'thle :Ilrivi-rng 'gea-rifrom the `rotetable zzslraftfito tenminalteefthe rotationief sairi drum '.andrthereby eauing irritation :of the pinion rior operation of thee-measuring ivalve'threugli continuedi rotation A@the:fr-Etlziteiti, and@ siourthgswitch iniseresewth the rltl'iirisswitch :land f fourth 'atreley pnerable to closed position 'upon starting ef rotation 0f saidpiniorr'toicamsefoperationaofztheefourthllelay @continuing @the .operetien @of the :motor pend movable to open position upon completibmoha .reynutionaiby saidrpinionzto :break the nircuit to sazidifeurth relay mdtherebyterminate thefepertionressaidmotor landlthefcyele ofwogeratiuni'f said :device `zito :refuse lQperetion .of rthe feecnnd malayz 'orecontingii-ng etheeoperation 'of -V.the fmetor and movable z to open position upon reompletian bien :revolutionvrbyusaid :pinion :.ito 1breek the cirvmii toesaidesecondfreley. andetherebyterminate the :eperaten `:of psa/ id motorfiand iterminate fthe ey-leaf nperationofseddevice.

8. :,-liquid .,'dispensing "machine fcomprising te emita-mer fthe fform @of a :rotatably mounted dm-1m, eafmember rotatably,mountedrelativelynto for :sunnita-merely :rotating @ein member @nel drum with the valve inoperative ztliereinfzamd means#fori'eansing1frntaitien@offseidfmembers'independentlyr-.o fasaivz.fdrusrn1 toetherehy-iansezmtaltion of :valve :relatively 5to @said vfxirinn :rior ydispensing `fliquid*1111.011 the said `freebhing fa predetermined -positien 1&9. n ifliquiid dispensing :Kiev-ice -comprising la -l-iqni eontainerfimthe form of a, drum kroteinlfly 'nncnnvsteidt upon ahorizontal e.A member 1rotatebly mounted on said `aazis relatively @to @fthe idrum,a measuring walvefearriedini-the drum-and projecting ztherefrom intofoperative `engagement with said kmem-ber, vdriving #mean-5f ioresimultame ou'sly #rotating `set-id iirum :and :member iwith the said1measuring valve-infinoperativefpositerrdur- 'ingfa'otationofthenum,:means toterminate the rotationof'zsaid 'iirumfandvpermit-the saidrmem- Lber to -feontinue 'to #rotate -vand Y:thereby -fcause operation of said measuring valve for dispensing liqui-fromthe fdrum, aneeleetricfeircuit 7lforoonftroll-ingthe==operation fofethe fdrnm v-amd.:member -selid :circuit including a1 main-fswitch,-amotor for rotatingxeaid drumfand member, iand-lafseries of relays fand --s'witehes operable the ecm-pletien-e-'rotatien of seid iirumffor controlling-the operationbftne'saiidmember.

fHOBCOMB. fJOHN 1C.

:'REEEREN CITED "The A'following referenees are 4'of AVrieefilltlgii'i the il'e of :this "patenti:

UNIIED f STAPEES .-y-RATENTS Number fNe-n-ie :Bete

i*flii '-Huggins :Aug 30,143,132 15105;'8112 =1Me,Kaig Aug.4, 1914 '212393984 V*Barrette @pn-@29,194 l 

